Assurance & Audit Lead

Caledonian Sleeper – Glasgow

Permanent, Full Time, 37.5 hours

Salary £45,000 - £50,000

At Caledonian Sleeper Limited (CSL), establishing a robust assurance framework is essential to operating safe and reliable services which achieve our company vision of delighting our guests, managing our extensive supply chain and satisfying our governance requirements as a public sector body. 

We are looking for an Assurance and Audit Lead to join our team who will play a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity and efficiency of CSL’s operations through comprehensive audit and assurance practices. This position is tasked with developing and implementing a company-wide assurance strategy to assess the adequacy and improve the effectiveness of internal controls and risk management processes and provide assurance on the management of our supply chain and compliance with regulatory standards and organisational policies.  The position will also play a key role in the development and implementation of internal audit plans within CSL, working closely with our external service providers for internal audit and our parent company Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH) and sister company ScotRail Trains Limited (SRT). 

Candidates must have a minimum of 3 years of experience in internal audit, risk management, or assurance roles and a proven track record of managing complex assignments and delivering high-quality results under tight deadlines.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assurance Framework/Strategy development and implementation

Develop and oversee the implementation of a comprehensive company-wide strategy that will include the identification of expected assurance requirements and delivery of key assurance outputs including the following identified priority areas:

• Supply chain / contract management assurance
• Service delivery (including resilience and business continuity planning)
• Compliance with internal policies and procedures

As part of the development and implementation of that strategy, to undertake appropriate monitoring and inspections on the quality and effectiveness of current controls and their outputs.

Audit Planning and Execution:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive risk-based internal audit plan, working with our external audit provider and SRH Group audit and risk manager based on a thorough audit needs assessment and stakeholder input.
• Conduct audits across all operational areas, including financial systems, safety protocols and operational processes, to evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls and compliance.

Reporting and Recommendations:

• Prepare detailed audit reports that include findings, risk assessments and actionable agreed recommendations for improvement.
• Present audit results and insights to senior management and the Audit and Risk Committee, ensuring transparency and clarity in communication.

Monitoring and Follow-Up:

• Establish a follow-up process to monitor the implementation of audit recommendations, ensuring that corrective actions are progressed by management in a timely manner.
• Conduct periodic reviews of previously audited areas to assess the sustainability of improvements made.

Risk Management:

• Collaborate with the CSL risk manager (Compliance Lead) to identify emerging risks and assess their potential impact on business objectives.
• Ensuring that the effectiveness of risk controls and mitigations is regularly reviewed by management 
• Provide guidance on best practices for risk mitigation and compliance with relevant regulations.

Training and Development:

• Develop training programs for staff to enhance their understanding of assurance requirements, audit processes, compliance requirements, and risk management practices.
• Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement within the organisation.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders, including department heads, the SRH Group risk and audit function and internal and external auditors, to facilitate effective communication and collaboration.
• Stay informed about industry trends, regulatory changes and best practices to enhance the assurance and audit function.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Candidate must, at a minimum have relevant experience, plus a degree in a relevant subject area OR relevant experience plus a suitable progressional qualification.

Educational Background:

• Bachelor’s in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Risk Management or a related field

Professional Certifications:

• Professional certifications such as CIA (Certified Internal Auditor), CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor), or CCAB qualified Accountant.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in internal audit, risk management, or assurance roles, with preference for any candidates with experience in the transportation or rail industry, or other complex, regulated and/or public facing organisations.
• Proven track record of managing complex assignments and delivering high-quality results under tight deadlines.

Technical Proficiency:

• Experience of preparing approaches to testing the adequacy and effectiveness of controls and assessing compliance in complex and/or regulated and/or public-facing organisations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

WHAT WE OFFER:

• 25 days annual leave (plus 9 Bank Holidays)
• Free travel on Scotrail for you and eligible family members
• Free travel on Caledonian Sleeper for you and eligible family members
• Significant discount on other UK rail travel for you and eligible family members
• Allocation of “friends and family” tickets for travel on Caledonian Sleeper
• Healthcare cash plan
• HAPI Benefits membership offering discounts at selected retailers, hospitality venues and gyms etc.
• Contributory pension scheme

APPLICATION PROCESS:

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click Apply. We look forward to reviewing your application.

Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens, we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. 

At Caledonian Sleeper Limited we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all and matches the diverse profile of our guests. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from all if you feel you match the skill requirements of the role.

We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. 

Caledonian Sleeper is an iconic brand with a heritage stretching back a century and a half to the early years of Scotland-London sleepers.

Part of an exclusive club, Caledonian Sleeper is one of only two sleeper trains in the UK, and we like to think it is the most scenic! Whisking guests from the bright lights of London through the night to the iconic cities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Inverness, and Glasgow or to the jaw dropping scenery of the west Highlands of Scotland around Fort William. We are proud to serve the UK’s most remote railway station too, Corrour.

Caledonian Sleeper sets new standards in overnight rail travel, offering a choice of affordable seats, private guestrooms, some with en-suites and double beds, as well as our much-loved Club Car to around 200,000 guests per year.